2006Mix-d: Manchester & Trafford. Youth Conference

Students from Manchester got together to discuss issues related to their mix-d race identity.

Event Details

We had a conference day all about mixed-race identity and made some of our first 40 friends in Manchester and Trafford.
Students from Manchester Academy, Newall Green School, Stretford Grammar School, Stretford High School and Whalley Range High School for Girls attended the event.

Event Summary

This event was the first of its kind to be held in Manchester. The conference offered a ‘safe space’ for mixed-race students to discuss issues around being Mix-d.
Denise Williams (Mix-d Education Consultant) started the day with a talk, and reminded the students that this was a landmark event and a place for them to have their voices heard.
Bradley Lincoln, founder of the project also shared his journey and gave an introduction and background to the work.

A short quiz about ‘multiple heritage identity’ was given to get things started before 22-year-old Matthew Crosbie performed his inspirational poem about his own Mix-d experiences.
After refreshments students were split into groups and spent an hour in themed workshops discussing issues related to mixed-race identity. A scribe was also at hand to capture their thoughts.

After lunch, students rejoined their workshop groups and discussed the themes and points for action, which each group then fed back to all their peers.

Many of the key issues and themes raised at the conference gave students a rare opportunity
to talk about the things they rarely get a chance to talk about. At the same time it gave
teaching staff a chance to hear from the student point of view.